Microscope drape and method of making same

Abstract

A microscope drape fabricated from a thin soft, relatively inexpensive, plastic film which will melt at temperatures considerably lower than the temperatures which are developed by the illuminating lamp of an operating microscope, is provided with a heat barrier loosely secured to and carried by the inner surface of that portion of the film which, but for the presence of the barrier would be adversely affected by the temperatures induced within the drape adjacent the illuminating lamp of the drape-enshrouded microscope.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a disposable drape for positioning over an operating microscope and its support arm wherein the drape is fabricated from a thin, flexible, air-impervious film which is adversely affected by the temperatures induced within the drape adjacent the source of illumination of the microscope, the improvement which comprises; a sheet of flexible material, characterized by its porous open-cell structure and its ability to withstand the temperatures induced within the drape adjacent the source of illumination of the microscope, positioned in loose contacting relationship against the inner surface of the drape whereby to provide a heat barrier which shields the drape adjacent said source of illumination from attaining temperatures sufficiently high to adversely affect the drape material.   
     
     
       2. A drape as called for in claim 1, wherein the drape is fabricated from polyethylene film and the said sheet comprises open-cell polypropylene foam. 
     
     
       3. A drape as called for in claim 2, wherein the film of the drape is approximately 2 mil thick, and the said sheet is approximately 1/8" thick. 
     
     
       4. A drape as called for in claim 1, wherein the said sheet is substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the said sheet is fastened to a localized area of the inner surface of the film along two of its opposed side edges whereby all other portions of the sheet are disposed in loose, abutting relationship with respect to the inner surface of the film. 
     
     
       5. A drape as called for in claim 4, wherein the said sheet is secured to the film by double faced adhesive strips. 
     
     
       6. The method of preventing a localized area of the thin, flexible film of a microscope drape from melting or being otherwise adversely affected by close proximity to illumination-lamp-induced temperatures in excess of the melting temperature of the film when the drape is disposed in enveloping relationship with an operating microscope, which comprises the step of positioning a sheet of open-cell material which is capable of withstanding the said illumination-lamp-induced temperatures in overlying relationship with that surface of the area of the film which is adjacent the source of the illumination-lamp-induced temperatures. 
     
     
       7. The method as called for in claim 1, wherein substantially the entire area of the sheet is free of direct attachment to the film. 
     
     
       8. The method as called for in claim 1, wherein the film is polyethylene. 
     
     
       9. The method as called for in claim 8, wherein the thickness of the film approximates 2 mils. 
     
     
       10. The method as called for in claim 1, wherein the sheet of open-cell foam material is polypropylene. 
     
     
       11. The method as called for in claim 10, wherein the thickness of the sheet approximates 1/8". 
     
     
       12. The method as called for in claim 1, wherein the sheet is adhesively secured to the said localized area of the film at locations adjacent the peripheral edges of the sheet, and wherein all other portions of the sheet are in overlying relationship with, but free of attachment to the film.